In 1998, the St. Francis Medical Center and the St. Francis Hospital Foundation became part of the Catholic Healthcare West system, now known as Dignity Health. Although the hospital closed its doors permanently in 2003, the St. Francis Foundation of Santa Barbara continued the mission of promoting healthcare in our community under the sponsorship of Dignity Health.
As of April 2022, the St. Francis Foundation of Santa Barbara became its own independent entity, no longer working under the umbrella of Dignity Health.
“We’re deeply grateful for the steadfast support Dignity Health has provided the St. Francis Foundation all these years, and equally grateful for their guidance, assistance and coaching through the process of gaining our independence,” said Kathleen Baushke, board president.
“In the tradition of St. Francis, our dedication to supporting access to healthcare for those most in need will not change,” she said. “In fact, we look forward to expanding our reach even wider.”
The foundation also serves as responsible stewards and administrators of legacy funds, ensuring those who desire lasting impacts from their charitable dollars that their funds are used in accordance with their wishes.
The combination of legacy funds with endowment dollars enables the foundation to play a key role in providing local organizations with grants needed to meet program goals.
They have just completed their 2022 annual giving cycle, in which 31 nonprofits received support for essential programs. Among the recipients are:
Doctors Without Walls, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, Hospice of Santa Barbara, Parish Nursing, Friendship Center, VNA Health Charity Care for Serenity House, Easy Lift, Organic Soup Kitchen, and Sarah House.